Don Monnot wrote:Dog leash anchors are dangerous for kiting anchors. They definitely don't hold well enough in soft soils (like sand). I've personally had them pull out and go flying through the air--not a good thing on a crowded beach. It happened to me on a deserted beach, with no harm. Don't use them!

Don Monnot wrote:Dog leash anchors are dangerous for kiting anchors. They definitely don't hold well enough in soft soils (like sand). I've personally had them pull out and go flying through the air--not a good thing on a crowded beach. It happened to me on a deserted beach, with no harm. Don't use them!

i've done this a few times hooking my harness around a tree trunk , but one time i did that and it was quite windy as always but it launched the kite all the way around and into the tree ... so i stopped , until i can install a strap that keeps the bar angle down so it doesnt allow the kite to launch

Although I've never actually investigated whether any kite MANUFACTURERS sell anchors or include them with kite purchases (like they do with pumps), my impression is that NONE do so.

Since it seems that anchors come close to making users into apparently INDEPENDENT kiters and kite manufacturers undoubtedly know that being able to RELIABLY self launch and land REASONABLY SAFELY is a highly desirable feature which increases marketability and kite value, a manufacturer could easily gain a significant competitive advantage by spending less than the cost of a pump and including an anchor (or 2) with their kites. And of course they could also sell them as accessories.

If it is true that kite manufacturers are neglecting to make their products more marketable and profitable, I wonder why.

POSSIBLE EXPLANATIONS:

1. Plain stupidity. 2. They don't want the extra effort.3. They don't need more profits.4. They want kiters to be dependent on each other.5. They deliberately make their kites difficult to safely self launch and land because they secretly own the anchor manufacturers and this way they can keep 2 profitable industries going.6. They're actually a complacent and happy cartel where no member wants to be mean to the others by getting a competitive advantage.7. OR, since it's likely that kite manufacturers are somewhat more knowledgeable about their products than their typical customer, maybe THEY KNOW SOMETHING we don't know. For example, maybe they know that the risk of something going seriously wrong is high enough so that there is an excessive risk that they might be held liable for damages resulting from INJURIES caused while their anchor was being used.

If anyone has some additional possible explanations, I hope they post them.

Of course, it would be much more helpful to hear some MANUFACTURERS' explanations and/or opinions. If it was true that they had some reason(s) to believe that anchor use was noticeably risky, by sharing this information, their CUSTOMERS would be better educated and able to make a more informed choice as to whether to continue using anchors. After all, the potential problems can't be so severe as to cause the loss of a sale or 2 to foil manufacturers or we would have heard about anchor accidents.

Fastest easiest way whether at beach or park (grass) without having to slide leading edge around

Make yourself filled sandbag (30lbs) that you keep in the car at all times for park launchingBring to the beach an "empty' sand bag that you will fill (30lbs) on location and spill out leaving

You will be able to launch a kite in any wind strengthNo need to fold wingtip Drape filled bag with the 10/20 method10 lbs on top of leading edge about 2ft from end of wingtip20 lbs off the kite resting on land /beach

Have fun and like an other reader said learn to safely land kite by yourself without any gizmosThere will be time when you cannot return to your launching site and need to land kite in a hurry

I like your idea Supa and i found the perfect sanbag fron NSIThe NSI sand or rock square velcro bag with handles can drape easily over leading in order to secure kite at launch and for other holding down the kite situations.

As you said buy 2 bags.One that you keep filled in your car for park use.One "empty" that you fill and empty out when you leave beach.Only $28

I use the KiteAnchor with a lot of success, and it's great for shallow water launches, as it comes with a buoy for the hook. However, I did have an incident where a rogue gust launched the kite and pulled the anchor straight out of the ground. Then you have a spike flying through the air - not good. This seems like a safer option from kiteboarding.com:

I just keep about 10 feet of rope and a carabiner in my kite bag and tie it to whatever sturdy thing is convenient, so far that hasn't failed (many launches and landings in winds from about 12 to 35 knots). If I can't find anything sturdy, I just fill my kite bag with some sand or rocks.

RichardM brings up a good point in questioning the reliability and safety of tethered launches. It sounds like some kites may not do well with tether launches, but they have worked well with every kite I've tried them with.

Self launching in extremely gusty winds is questionable (although, so is kitesurfing) and I can definitely imagine problems with tether launching in strong gusty winds, but it is probably safer than the alternative self launch methods that most people use.

rtz: I think the PKS handy-dandy thing is just a piece of rope and a carabiner. Sure, it works, but you could just go to your basement and make that yourself.

I just keep about 10 feet of rope and a carabiner in my kite bag and tie it to whatever sturdy thing is convenient, so far that hasn't failed (many launches and landings in winds from about 12 to 35 knots). If I can't find anything sturdy, I just fill my kite bag with some sand or rocks.

RichardM brings up a good point in questioning the reliability and safety of tethered launches. It sounds like some kites may not do well with tether launches, but they have worked well with every kite I've tried them with.

Self launching in extremely gusty winds is questionable (although, so is kitesurfing) and I can definitely imagine problems with tether launching in strong gusty winds, but it is probably safer than the alternative self launch methods that most people use.

rtz: I think the PKS handy-dandy thing is just a piece of rope and a carabiner. Sure, it works, but you could just go to your basement and make that yourself.